p.1 #1 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
Yeah, I know. It's a weird name for a credit card. But there's a good idea behind it: charge your gear purchases on B&H's card and B&H will immediately reimburse you for any sales taxes generally applied as per the shipping destination. Where I live (Seattle WA Area), it's 10%. Given the cost of quality gear, getting back that 10% is pretty terrific.
So I applied for the B&H PayBoo card and was approved instantly. Fine.
But Synchrony Bank, the underwriters of the card, has since questioned the "validity" of my cell number (772. 532. 6547). They tell me that I need to contact my cell phone carrier (AT&T) and have them verify that 772. 532. 6547 is actually under my name and/or correct the "problem" that Synchrony Bank is running into.
Well ... I don't know what Synchrony's problem is with my cell phone and my name because Synchrony won't tell me! They have only told me that there's a question about the card being in my name and being exclusively for my use.
Are they crazy or what??
772. 532. 6547 has been my cell phone number for more than 20 years ... AND HAS BEEN IN MY NAME, THE SAME NAME AS IN MY B&H ACCOUNT ... for that same number of years.
No company or organization ... not Medicare, not the DMV, not my doctors AND NOT B&H ... has EVER questioned my cell phone number and my name being the only name associated with it.
In the three conversations I've had with Synchrony I've been insulted to the point where I'm going to cancel the card. I applied for the card specifically to avoid the 10% tax. (I've been a B&H customer for many years and used to live in New Jersey. We moved to the Seattle WA area last October.)
I would rather pay the hefty tax than deal with the insults, incompetence and poor service I've received from Synchrony.
B&H should really look into this. Synchrony is the pits.
p.1 #2 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
Steve,
Thanks for posting your experience, infuriating as it must be for you. Any chance BH's Ambassador here, Henry Posner, might be of assistance? Were I in you, I'd certainly try to make contact with him here. HTH
p.1 #3 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
anthonysemone wrote:
Steve, Thanks for posting your experience, infuriating as it must be for you. Any chance BH's Ambassador here, Henry Posner, might be of assistance? Were I in you, I'd certainly try to make contact with him here. HTH
I will be making contact with Henry as soon as the Jewish holiday has ended. B&H reopens on Tuesday.
My relationship with Synchrony Bank has actually gotten worse. Yesterday I requested that my B&H credit card account be closed. I did this out of frustration and a long-standing belief that companies and individuals who do not service their customers properly do not deserve my business.
Today, I thought it over and realized that I was shooting myself in the foot by denying myself the 10% tax rebate that the B&H card offers. I called Synchrony in an effort to re-open the credit card account or establish a new one. They said no on both counts!! They will not reopen the account that was originally approved and will not allow me to reapply!
Now, think about that: here I am, a qualified credit customer who has ALREADY BEEN APPROVED for a B&H credit card and has even received the card in the mail ... but all Synchrony can say is, "No dice. No account for you. Goodbye."
I'm anxious to see what Henry has to say about all this and if he can offer help.
p.1 #4 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
Steve, mind-boggling, indeed!!!! I cannot help but speculate as to the backstories between BH and Synchrony as to who is "zoomin' who" . Damn shame you're being exposed to this crap. Hang tough, bro, and be prepared at some juncture to tell them to KYA. Keep us posted. take care, anthony
p.1 #5 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
anthonysemone wrote:
Steve, mind-boggling, indeed!!!! I cannot help but speculate as to the backstories between BH and Synchrony as to who is "zoomin' who" . Damn shame you're being exposed to this crap. Hang tough, bro, and be prepared at some juncture to tell them to KYA. Keep us posted. take care, anthony
I've sent Henry a link to my post. I'm sure I'll be hearing from him next week sometime. Thank you for your support.
p.1 #6 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
I ran into this issue when I first changed from a land line to a VOIP line. It was always solved by sending the first page of my phone bill to the creditor in question. You may also want to check your credit report at the bureau they use, the issue could be an incorrect phone number on your credit report.
p.1 #7 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
K6AZ wrote:
I ran into this issue when I first changed from a land line to a VOIP line. It was always solved by sending the first page of my phone bill to the creditor in question. You may also want to check your credit report at the bureau they use, the issue could be an incorrect phone number on your credit report. 10% sales tax? I'm sorry but that is obscene.
I checked my credit bureau. There's nothing incorrect about what they have on their records. Also keep in mind that what makes this even more weird is that Synchrony Bank APPROVED my initial application AND SENT ME A B&H PAYBOO CARD!
Yes, 10% sales tax seems to be "obscene." But there's no state income tax, and the hefty sales tax keeps state-operated roads, bridges, parks, etc, in top shape.
p.1 #8 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
There are states with half that tax that manage to keep the roads and public facilities in good shape too. 10% sales tax (and it's that high in NY and many parts of CA) is just excessive when you factor in everything else they tax.
p.1 #10 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
veroman wrote:
I will be making contact with Henry as soon as the Jewish holiday has ended. B&H reopens on Tuesday.
I am sorry for your frustration. I've shared this with the person here who is our liaison with the bank and asked for additional input. When I know more I'll reply, probably via email.
p.1 #11 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
henryp wrote:
I am sorry for your frustration. I've shared this with the person here who is our liaison with the bank and asked for additional input. When I know more I'll reply, probably via email.
p.1 #13 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
anthonysemone wrote:
As well as your persistence, Steve. Good show on your part
Thank you. Much appreciated.
Bottom line: an amazing manager at Synchrony Bank listened intently to my entire phone and online experience and apologized on behalf of the customer service people for treating me the way they did.
She then went into my latest application, confirmed with me the data that was in the app, then approved my B&H card.
p.1 #14 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
Steve, out cotton pickin' standing, Bro..... and thanks much to Mr. Posner. Now if only we could talk Helen Oster into being our Adorama Ambassador from Israel.
p.1 #15 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
veroman wrote:
Yet another example of why B&H is the best. Thank you Henry.
- Steve
I've had nothing but good luck with B&H and Adorama over the years. Once you get used to their high standards for customer service it makes it difficult to roll the dice with unknowns to save a few dollars.
p.1 #18 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
henryp wrote:
I am sorry for your frustration. I've shared this with the person here who is our liaison with the bank and asked for additional input. When I know more I'll reply, probably via email. Henry Posner [email protected] B&H Photo-Video
SYNCHRONY BANK, PART II:
Henry: you will find this hard if not impossible to believe. I received my Synchrony Bank PayBoo card today. I called Synchrony to activate the card.
Guess what? They will not activate the account! They're saying there's some kind of fraud alert attached to the account and that the phone number I've given them (my cell phone number, the same number I've had for the past 25 years!) needs to be verified. Verified? My cell phone? The ONLY cell phone I've ever had? No entity I've ever dealt with, including the U.S. Government, has ever challenged the legitimacy of my cell phone number!
As you know, my account was finally approved by a Synchrony manager after a long and helpful conversation a couple of weeks ago. She was cordial and apologized on behalf of Synchrony's customer people.
Unfortunately, nothing has changed. I've just gotten off the phone with yet another Synchrony manager who was nowhere near as cordial and helpful as the previous one. He was insulting and communicated the same nonsense I've been hearing for the past month. They still feel they need to validate my cell phone number, but they won't tell me why! Madness, Henry. This is sheer madness.
I'm sorry Henry, as much as I'd like to participate in the PayBoo idea, I will no longer conduct business with Synchrony. I will not honor their poor and insulting service by carrying one of their cards. I would rather pay the rather hefty tax here in Washington than speak again with anyone at Synchrony.
The PayBoo card is a great idea, Henry. But maybe, in the long run, B&H picked the wrong bank for PayBoo. I hope not.
I will continue to make it my business to purchase from B&H when it's in my best interests to do so.
p.1 #19 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
The craziest thing of all, of course, is that they sent me their credit card!
It appears that Synchrony's left hand and right hand aren't communicating. Why on Earth would ANY credit card organization issue a card when, beforehand, they come upon what they consider to be an "issue" with the applicant's phone number? Didn't they see this so-called "alert" BEFORE they sent the card to me? Madness .....
p.1 #20 · Major problem with B&H's new PayBoo credit card ...
Steve, well that SUCKS double-time. Pay-boo may need to be renamed "Pay-Boo-Shite." Do you know if Synchrony bank has a Twitter account, or a Facebook, or an Instagram presence? If so, I'd post up your experience there. I'm sure viewers would find that of value. As my Italian grandfather used to say: "Pizz on 'em" !!!!!!
